Doctors-of-Behavioral-Health-Making-History July 14, 2017

Charles Davis, DBH student at Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI), has been confirmed by the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Finance as a Member of the New York State Board of Parole, beginning the end of July 2017.

This marks the first time in history that a future DBH has served on a State Board of Parole in New York or any other US State. Reflecting upon the recent appointment, Charles shared the following message with Cummings Graduate Institute CEO and DBH Director, Dr. Cara English:

“CGI has changed my life, all for the better. Because I have the DBH program listed on my resume, the Senators wanted to know all about the program in each hearing. I was questioned by New York Senate Board members to explain the DBH program, and the ‘DBH’ title, which you can hear in the video (linked below).

Everyone appears to be excited to have someone on the Board with behavioral experience. My goal is to use the education and skills acquired at CGI to improve behavioral health services throughout the New York correctional system.

Presently, within the NYS correctional system, primary care and behavioral health care are siloed, with no interaction across boundaries. The integration of care will support inmates while in prison, and will ensure appropriate treatment upon release, thus reducing recidivism rates among the formerly incarcerated.”

Footage of Charles’s Senate Confirmation Hearing is available on the New York State Senate’s website and can be viewed here. (Advance to timestamp 8:17 to watch Charles in action.)

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies congratulates Charles Davis for his recent achievement and looks forward to seeing his impact in the state of New York.

DBH Makes History as the Director of Health for the Navajo Nation

Dr. Glorinda Segay, DBH, was recently confirmed as the Director of Health for the Navajo Nation with a vote of 16-0. Dr. Segay is the first and only female to ever be confirmed for this role, in addition to being the first DBH to hold the Director of Health role within any tribal nation.

Navajo Nation President, Russell Begaye, commended the appointment stating “I believe that in order to properly assess a division’s efficiency and productivity, we need to have strong and reliable directors put in place. I see these leadership qualities in Dr. Glorinda Segay.”

Dr. Segay is already making improvements in her new role, having testified before federal agencies with President Begaye this week.

Dr. Segay received her Master’s Degree from Western New Mexico University and earned her Doctorate in Behavioral Health (DBH) at Arizona State University, where she studied the Biodyne Model under Dr. Nicholas Cummings in the first cohort of DBH students. She completed her residency in Chinle’s Indian Health Services (IHS) under Dr. Flynn and Krista Haven.

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies is thrilled to see a DBH making historic impact in the Navajo Nation and United States. We congratulate Dr. Segay and wish her the best as she serves in this critical role for the Navajo Nation.

Testimonials

The “four questions” of the refocused psychotherapist [in the Biodyne Model] and the concept of the “onion/garlic” psychodynamic enabled me to not only conceptualize a case and plan treatment more rapidly, but to rise to a new level of professional confidence in meeting the behavioral care needs of my patients.

Dr. Gayle Cordes, DBHJuly 12, 2016

The DBH program has been life-changing for me and has brought great value to the patients I serve. I work with a diverse population of patients in a 400+ bed Hospital to improve overall health outcomes. I love working with other medical providers to help patients improve their wellness and quality of life. I collaborate with the medical team to treat behavioral and psychological components of COPD, CHF, Diabetes, weight loss, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, IBS, substance abuse issues, and more. The DBH program’s focus on brief interventions in medical settings is valuable, timely, and effective.

At the age of 53, and after working 25 years in the field of social work returning to school was not on my bucket list, but after learning about the Cummings Graduate Institute’s online program, my hope of achieving my lifetime a doctorate degree was possible. CGI online Doctor of Behavioral Health program is innovative and relevant. It's the perfect fit for the busy professional, parent or person looking to return to school or career advancement without the fuss of unnecessary coursework. CGI understands and recognizes that there are capable professionals and that most professionals are looking to gain a competitive edge or simply looking to satisfy a personal goal.

Steven ByrdDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate InstituteMarch 4, 2017

I am a behavior analyst, and always believed that behavior analysis could improve the quality of life of so many people; but the way ABA services are delivered nowadays, one behavior analyst cannot reach many people. The healthcare landscape is changing and integration is a perfect venue to reach more people. I had already worked in a hospital setting and knew that my training was not enough to navigate the changing systems. The DBH offers training in relevant subjects such as population health management, health equity, legal issues and ethics in healthcare, and entrepreneurship. The breadth and variety of the courses will prepare me to face any challenges I may encounter.

The faculty at CGI are not only very knowledgeable in their field, but are very caring individuals who make an effort to learn about the students and their interests. I have been pleasantly surprised by the various systems CGI has in place to set clear expectations and guidelines for the student's performance. For each class, I know exactly what to expect, and what I have to do. The course material is very stimulating and engaging. The staff is very approachable and responsive, and the Librarian is an asset! I feel that everyone at CGI is cheering me for my success while holding me accountable for my work. I am sure that upon graduation, I will have a solid foundation to be an active change agent in the healthcare landscape.

CGI has changed my life, all for the better. Because I have the DBH program listed on my resume, the Senators (my Senate Confirmation Hearing to serve on the New York State Board of Parole) wanted to know all about the program in each hearing. I was questioned by New York Senate Board members to explain the DBH program, and the 'DBH' title. Everyone appears to be excited to have someone on the Board with behavioral experience. My goal is to use the education and skills acquired at CGI to improve behavioral health services throughout the New York correctional system.
Presently, within the NYS correctional system, primary care and behavioral health care are siloed, with no interaction across boundaries. The integration of care will support inmates while in prison, and will ensure appropriate treatment upon release, thus reducing recidivism rates among the formerly incarcerated.